Machine for the manufacture of crucibles and the like



1,631,708 All@ 2 1927' H. E. PORTER MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OFCRUCIBLES AND THE LIKE Filed` March 245. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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O 0 /00 .9.9 o G g8 '.97 I 2 `9/ 7g f7 /r/ZZ 3 @4 i 4 5 i w i /Z/ 720 gw /Z .57 Il Il 5M- nm ATTORNEYS 1927. H. E. PORTER MACHINE FOR THEMANUFACTURE OF CRUCIBLESYAND THEI LIKE Filed March 25. 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 2 .2.

ATTORNEYJ Aug. 2,1921. 1,637,108

H. E. PORTER MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CRUCIBLES AND THE LIKE FiledMaren 25, 1924 4 sheets-sheet 5 ATTORNEY` Aug. 2 1927.

H. E. PORTER MACHINE FQR THE MANUFAGTURE OF CRUCIBLES AND THE LIKE FiledMarch 25. 1924 lill! Patented Aug. 2, 1927. Y iai l ai.

HAROLD n. ron-TER, or BAYsIDE, NEW YORK, Assreivon To CHARLOTTE T.roumain.

MACHINE non THEMANUFACTURE or cnuciianns Ann THE LiKE.

Application filed March 25, 192.4. Serial No. 701,664.

rEhe present invention relates to a maf :liine tor the manufacture otorucibles, particularly crucibles made from plastic material orsubstances7 although useful generally in this and kindred arts.

Heretoifore cru-.cibles from plastic material have been made byturning amass of the plastic material on a potters wheel or the lile either withor without'the use of a mold for 'forming the outside and using the handor a forming tool for shaping the inside. The moet rapid method isthatemploying a machine for spinning a mold into whichis placed a suiiicientquantity of Crucible ma-y terial and moving" a forming tool down intoVthe center of said mass as Ytar as the inside ot the bottom of thefinished. Crucible and then horizontally to spread the plastic materialagainst the side oi" the mold.

By my invention I am able to save considerable time in thejinolding of acrucible and iurtvier save time in the liring or baking ot the Crucibleas much less plastic 'material 1an be used with my method and apparatus.Furthermore a superior article is produced. ln my machine l employ anexpansible punch within a mold to Llorm plastic ma.

terial in said mold to the'shape ofthe interior ot the .mold and theexterior ot the expanded punch in a short and rapid operation.

fit is therefore an object oi' my invention to provide a forming machineior crucibles and the like which employs a mold and a. plug or winchtherein which has a length sub stanti ally equal tothe depth oit theiinished Crucible and which. after entering the mold yially form theCrucible.y is eicpansible ally substantially Athroughout its lengthwhile lin said mold tor the purpose of spreading and compacting` theplasticmavagainst all sides or portions of the After the Crucible hasbeen formed in the manner just stated the punch is collapsed therebyenabling it to be readily withdrawn from the mold without injury to theCrucible molded. As the punch enters themold anc also during the lateralexpansion of said punch the mold is constantly rotated being mounted,as'it is, in a suitable rotat- This not only serves to compact of thelgrain oit the plastic'material to give it maximum strengthi so much sothat the 5a Crucible when formed may be immediately removed from themold without danger of collapsing. o

Further objects, features, and advantages `will more fully appear tromthe description 6? below ta-lren in. vconnection with the accompanyingdrawings which iorm part of this applicationand in which: f f y Fig. lshows a front elevation of one embodiment of my invention, the machinebeing in the normal position with the punch at its upper limit oimovement.

Figf i enlarged view of parts illusl with certain' portionsthereoftrated in .i shown in erticalsection, with the parts lo- 7U cated indifferent relative positions, and with the punch at its lower limit ofmovementbut with,v the jaws thereo'tl still in their collapsed position.Y j Figa 8 is a detailed'cross-sectional view 75 ,taken on th'eline 8 3in Fig. 2. o A Fig. Li-Kis a sectionl ot a part of the machine oit-Fig.l taken .at right angles to the section shown in! ldig. `andgalong theline lp-1l of Fig.l 9. ln thisv view the mold has been 8@ slightlyturned from the position ot Fig.- 2, but `the jaws ot the punch have notbeen enpanded as they are inFig, 9. Y

Fig. 5 is a ysection taken on the line5-5 of Fig. 2. y l

of one of a 4set ot' expanding jaws which operatewithin the punch.. p

Fig. 7 is a View similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2 showing the linaloperation of the 90 machine, that is, with the aws of the punch expandedtoV eiiect the final compression of the plastic material in the mold.

8 the section of the mold and its parts in the position illustrated inFig. 7 but 95 with'these parts together withthe mold rotated through aslight angular distance( rEhe section lisvtalren substantially on theline. Li-ionFigSl ...Fina 9 is a section talren on the line 9 9 10o orrig. i.

Fig. 1-0 Ais .a section taken on theline 10"--0 otjFig. 7'.- v n y lFig.llis a perspective view .of the cru/ci? ble after itis taken 'from themold. l

, Fig. 12 f is a p' horizontal section of the e tion made of anysuitable material upon which the `machine is supported. Projectingupwardly from' the foundation-are a plurality ofstandards 11 forsupporting the base plate 12 of the machine. "Secured to and extendingupwardly from the baseplat-e 12 are two stanchions or uprights 13 and14. Mounted upon these stanchions at an intermediate position is a guideframe 15 whichcarries a bearing or boss 16 which guides a supportingsleeve 17 for the punch 18 in its upward and downward movement.Located-adjacent to the upper ends of and Supported' by the stanchions13 and 14 is a. second guide frame 19 which supports a pneumaticcylinder 20 and also serves as a` `bearing for the piston rod 21 whichis connected to a piston 22 operating in said "cylinder 2O to edecttheupward and downward movementpof the punch 18.

The reference numerals 23 and 24 designate the two sections of asuitable chuck, the `section 23 `being secured te the revolving table 25as by bolts 26, (see also Fig. 10). The two sections are relativelymovable; that is to say the section 24 is pivotedto the section 23 aboutthe pintle 27 as a center. The two sections are clamped to each other bymeans of swivel bolts 28 as will be more clearly apparent froman'inspection of Figs. 2, 7 and 10. The chuck 23-24, as before stated,is suitably secured to and rotatable with and by the revolving table 25.This table isequipped with and supported by a Vshaft 29, whichisprovided with bearings 30 and 31 (see Fig. 2), one of which is locatedin the base-plate 12 and the other of which is located in the bottom ofthe housing 32.'4 Upon the lower end of the shaft is fixed a bevel gear33 which meshes with a. bevel pinion 34 mounted upon a stub Shaft 35(see Fig. 4) rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 36 located in thehousing 32. Upon this shaft is also vsecured one member 37 `of a clutch,the other member 38 of which is rotatably fixed to but longitudinallymovable upon a co-a-Xial countershaft 39 rotatably mountedin a suitablebearing 40 (see Fig. 4)`supported by the base-plate l2. Upon the outerend of this counters'haft 39 is mounted a driving pulley 4l driven by abelt 42. The clutch member 38 is movable longitudinally upon the shaft39 by the following mechanism. This clutch member 38 is provided with asuitable annular groove into which the pins 43 and 44 project from `theforked arms 45 and 46 of the lever 47.

This lever `is pivoted at an intermediate point 48toswing about the sameas an; axis. The outer end of this lever 47 is pivotally connected toone end of the link 49, the

at 51 to the base-plate 12 of the machine.`

It will therefore seen; as the lever 50` is moved backwards and forwardsabout its pivotal point 51 as a center, that the clutch Y member 38willbe thrown into and out of engagement Vwith the clutch member 37` andthat when said clutch members are engaged with each other `a movement isimparted to the shaft 35 and a corresponding movement is imparted to theshaft 29 through gears 33 and 34 to rotate the `table 25 and hence thechuck 23-24. The downward thrust of the revolving table 25 during thepunching operation, is taken `up bythe thrust bearing 30.

The chuck 23-24 is provided at its lower `end with an undercut groove 52for the purpose of receiving correspondingly shaped annular steelflanges 53 located at and eX- tending laterally froml the bottom of themold sections 54, 55 and 56 (see Fig. 5).

The mold is preferablymade of said three sections 54, 55 and 56 so as toenable the molded article to be readily removed therefrom after thepunching or rather molding operation has been completed. The sections ofthe mold are preferably made of aluminium; hence the desirability ofmaking the flanges 53 of steel. `The mold sections are provided withvertical ribs which are engaged by the chuck sections. The mold seotionsare preferably secured to one another in an assembledposition-byv meanof hinges 57 and 58 at two join-ts and the swivel bolts 59 at the other,all of which is clearly illus- Vtrated 1n Fig. 5. It will therefore beseen that when the mold sections areassembled to `on`e another the moldis insertedin the chuck with the flange `53 engaging the groove 52 ofthe said chuck in consequence of which when the chuoksections 23 and 24Vare tightened to each other by means of the swivel bolts 28 an upwardmovement of the mold is prevented. This is important particularly in thewithdrawal of the punch after the punching operation has beencompleted.` Y j The punch n'iecbai'iisin comprises the :tol-

lowingiflh'ecylinder 2O is equipped with piston 22"(see 1) located uponthe upper end Hof the shaft or piston Yrod 2l. shaft 21 passes through asleeve 17 and is provided at its lower end with an expanding member orsiliider 60 .fitted thereto and hav'- ing a plurality of laterallyextendingl T- `shaped tapered eXpandinirai-ms 61 which 'serve to engagewith the jaws 62 (see Figs. 5 and The spider 60t the arms 61 thereon andthe jaws 62 are loeated'within a flembleexpansible punch,memberthelatter lot-ing provided at Vits `upper end with a flanged portion 64which is located between an annular ring 65 and a member 66. The

This

llt)

two ditlierent 'oper-ations.

flange 64 of the punch member is clamped to and secured to .the ring 65and the member 66 by meansof suitable bolts 67 clearly illustratedinzFig. 8. The member' 66 is also equipped with a vdepressed portion 68,telescoping within the punch member 63. EX- tending inwardly from thedepressed portion 68 is a flanged portion 69 upon which rests a guide 79for the piston rod or shaft 21. The bearing member 70 is rigidly securedto the member G6-67w68 in any suitable way as by bolts 71 (seeFig. 7)..An air duct 72 passes through partsA 69 andA 70. (See Figs. l and 8.)The bearing member 7 0 is provided with an external screw thread forreceivingv the internal screw threaded sleeve 17 and by which saidsleeve is secured thereto. The sleeve as before stated, passes through aboss 16 on the .bearing frame 15 and above said bearing framesaid sleeveis connected to a member 73 longitudinally adjustable thereon by meansof a screw threaded connection therewith'. The sleeve 17 is preventedfrom rotating bvmeans of .set screws 7 +L and 7 5 (see Figs. 2 and 3)located in the boss 16 and engaging respectively into the grooves 76 and77 of said sleeve. To the shaft 21 which passes through'sleeve 17A abovethe member78 is rigidly secured a strap member 78. The member' 7 3 andthe stra 3 member 78 rovide means for enabling a relative longitudinalmovement of the shaft v21l and sleeve 17. This is desirable as thepunching operation comprises essentially In the first place the downwardmovement of the punch ,18 moving as a unit with shaft 21r and sleeve 17makes a hole into the mass of plastic material previously inserted inthe mo'ld, and in the .second place a lateral expansionof the punch iseffected by, a continued downward movement of said shaft 21 with respectto said sleeve 17Kwhich serves to further' compress the plastic materialand causes it to bespread over the entire surface of themold. Therelative movement of the shaft 21 with respect to the shaft 17 is forthe purpose of effecting a radial movement of the expansible punchmember 63. This relative movement is effected by means of toggleconnection be'- tween the members 73 and 78 which comprises thefollowing mechanism, Pivoted to the member 78 at the points7 9 and 8Oare the ends of four links 81-82 and 83-.-8&. (See Figs. 2 and 3). theselinks are pivoted at 85 and 8G to the members 87 and 88 which arev inturn prvoted respectively tothe members 73 at the points 89 and 90.Themmembers 87 and 88 are provided respectively with arms .91 and 92,the norma-l position of wliichLtogether with the toggle mechanism, isc'learly. illustratedA in Figs. 1 and 2. It will therefore be readilyapparent that upon thev downward.

movement of the piston 22 and shaft 21., a

The other ends ofl ln other words, the downward movement may beincreased or decreased by a corresponding adjustment of the loclr nuts93 on the threaded upperend of sleeve 17. At this point of the downwardtravel of the shaft 21 and the sleeve 17 the arms 91 and 92 of thetoggle members S7 and 88 come I -into juxtaposition with the pin 94vertically movable in a bearing sleeve 95 located upon the bearingfram-e 15 (see Fig. 2). The lower end of the pin 94 is pivotallyconnectedpto a manually actuating` lever' 96. Tt will, therefore,be'readily apparent from Fig. 2, that vu pon the manual movement of thelever 96 to the left, the pin 94: will engage the arms 91 and 92 therebybreaking the toggle thus enabling a continued or a supplemental downwardmovement'of the shaft 21 relative to the sleeve 17. This additionalmovement of the shaft 21 effects an expansion of the jaws 62 in a mannerhereinafter more fully described, and of course, a corresponding lateralexpanding movement ofthe rubber or other flexible member 63. Thisrelative downward movement of the shaft 21 continues until the bearingmember 78 engages with the bearing member 73, as clearly illustrated inFig. 7. j

Upon` the upward movement of the shaft 21 dueA to reversedpneumaticaction in the` cylinder 20, the portions 97 and 98 of thetoggle members 87 and 88 respectively engage with the cam members 99 and100 (see Fig. 1) and assures the restoration of the toggle members aswell as the shaft 21 and sleeve 17 to their' relative normal positions.

These members99 and 100 are secured to the bearing frame 19. It will bereadily apparent that if positive-means were not provided to prevent itthe sleeve 17 would Vquickly retreat upwardly from its lowermostposition upon the breaking of the toggle. -It 'is prevented from! doingso, however, by means of the spring-pressed dog 101 which engages overythe lock nuts 93 as soon as the sleeve 17 has travelledto its downwardlimit. "This dog is mounted in a bearing 102 (see Fig. 2)lixed to theupper surface 'of the bearing frame'l. lThis is an important feature asit maintains they punch in its proper lvertical position until the samehas been expanded laterally to coniplete the molding(` operation. Afterthe molding operation has been completed, that is after the punchv hasbeen collapsed, the dog is retracted by means of ya movement of themanually operated leverlOS to the right 'as viewed in Figs. 2 and-aganstthe loi) lil)

sion of the spring 10Llwhich holds said dog normally in the` positionillustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 7. A stud 105 on the dog limits itsoutward inovement, and the stud 106 its in-` ward movement.'` j j.

lVithin the lower partV oit' the flexible punch member 63 is located atapered centrally perforated member 107 rigidly connected `to the member66--66-69 by means ot a plurality ol struts or connecting bars 108located between the adjacent spider arms 6l.` (See Located below thetapered member 107 is a second centrally perforated tapered member 109equipped with a hollow protuberance 110 extending upwardly through thecentral perforation in the member 107, and also provided with adownwardly projecting hollow protuberance lll eilteriding` throughthebottom olf the flexible punch member 63. The normal positions oit thetapered members 107 and 109 are illustrated inFig. 2 with one in contact with the other. The struts 108 prevent a relative rotation of thesleere`17 and shaft 21. Normally the tubular member 110 pro jectsslightly beyond the upper sur-ace oi the member 107 (see Figs. 2and Al)so that when the shait 21 is moved downwardly in relation to sleeve 17as above described it will engage the projecting end of this tubularmember 110 and consequently move the lower member 109 downwardlyrelative to the member 107 with a resultthat Vthe lower end ot therubber punching member 63 will be expanded and thereby takeup anyinequalities in the molded material due to any collapsing` or puelreringaction :of the lower end ott' said rubber punching member which mightoccur during the punching operation. The upperend otthe protuberance 110is perforated and within the same is a valve stem 112 provided on itslower end with a valve 113 normally engaging a valve-seat located uponthe lower end of the protuberance 111. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 7the valve 113 is held upon its seat by means ot' a spring surroundingthe valve stem.` It will therefore be seen that as the punch iswithdrawn from `the mold airirom the interior ol the punch may beadmitted by the valve 113 to the space between the molded article andthe punch and thereby destroy Athe vacuum which would otherwise becreated therein due tothe withdrawal of said punch. i y j 1 j Fixed tothe lower end otshaft`21 is the spider which comprises the fourarins 6 1whose circun'rterential `faces taper down?. wardly. Said arms 61 VareT-shaped and loclr into the grooves 114` formed by: the ribs 115 on `theinner surface ot said jaws 62, said grooves being tapered to receive theT- shaped portions of said arms 61. Each of said jaws 62 comprises asection of a long annular band which is arcuated longitudi'- grooved asdescribed above to receive the T-shaped portions of the spider arm 61.To-

expande'd position of the punch a barrel shaped ring seen in verticalsection in Fig. 4 and in vcross-section inFig. 5. ln the back of saidjaws 62 are the grooves 116, tapered substantially parallel to saidgrooves 114, into which lit the similarly tapered ribs117 formed on theinterior of the punch member 63. rlhese tapering ribs117 are to be seenin vertical section in Figs. 2 and 7 and in cross section in Figs. 9 and10, the upper ends of which are seen in plan view in Fig. 5 where itwill also be seen that the tapering grooves 116 in the backs or' jaws 62are ta.- pered to nothing at the tops, and outside edges` of said jaws.grooves and ribs 61, 114, 116 and 117 prevent rotation with the mold ofsaid spider 60, jaws 62, and punch member 63. Said ribs 117 on theinside of punch 63 extend down gether the several jaws 62 `form in theun- These cooperating` to the bottom thereof and lit into corre.`

spending grooves in members 107 and 109, which serve torprevent acircumferential ro tation or distortion of the lower end of the rubbermember 63 due to its frictional engagement with plastic material in themold asthelatter islrotated.

In the normalposition of the parts, that is to say inthe positionyillustrated in Fig. 1, the arcuate portions 118 and 119 ot' the jaws 62arespaced `slightly lrhm the rubber punch member 63V (see Fig. 5)# Inother words only the ribs 117 of the member 63 are in contact with thejaws in the grooves 116 As soon as the punch, however', has been loweredinto the plastic material and the said shaft 21 is movedwith respect tosleeve 17, the tapering faces ofribs 61 on spider 60 cause all portionsot `the external 'faces ot the` jaw members 62 tocome into contact withthe inner surface of the flexible. punch member 63. j j l The mechanismdescribed above for effecting a lateral or radiall expansion ol thepunch member 63 is specilically referred to for illustrative purposesonly, and because the same has been found very satisfactoryin actualpractice. In many uses the punch member mayl bernade relatively thickerat its lower end, as illustrated in Fig. 11,110 compensate` for thepuckering ol the lowerend thereof. Furthermore I do not limit myselit'to a mechanical means for effecting the lat eral expansion as this' maybedone by fluid pressure. In `fact it is conceivable that ttor accuratework pneumatic or liquid means would be preferable as a more uniformexpansion ofcall portions of the walls of the Y :flexible member 63could be effected.

Any suitable means may be employed `for leo ino connects the inlet 12()with the cylinder 2li below the piston. rl`he valve 2 is coni ted to theexhaust pipe 121i. A lever `sieiuployed to manipulate the valve 121.Vlfi/ihen the lever is in the position illustratori in Figsa 1 and 2 airtrom the inlet 120 lniitted through the pipe 122 yabovethc ,fiston Atthe same time this valve 121 enables the discharge otl the air below thepiston through` the pipe 123` to the .exhaust pipe 124, YWhen this leveris in mid-position ot the sector 126., the inlet is cut oli. However,when it vis at the other end oi the sector from that illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, the inlet y120 is rconnected up with the pipe 123, thusenabling the air to be admitted below the piston and the punch raisedfrom operative position. At the same time the pipe 122 is connected upwith the exhaustpipe 124 to enable the discharge of air from above thepiston.

As a preferred term l malte the interior surface of the mold sections54, and 5G or" a series oi" tangential surfaces so that cross sectionwould appear as av many sided polygon instead ot acircle (see Figs. 11and l2). T his itoi'm is designed to prevent rotation in the mold otlthe plastic material by the turning ot said mold by said table 25.Roughening in some cases will sutlice.

In the operation oiE my invention the irst molding operation afterplacing a quantity ot suitable plastic material into the mold 56 is thelowering of the punch 1S not only into the rotating mold but also intothe mass ot plastic material previously placed therein as a result otwhich ksaid plastic in aterial is pressed against the sides of the moldas shown in Figs. 2 and 4l. This pressure exerted vertically andhorizontally at the same time results in 'the arrangement ot the grainsof the material ot the crucible in both the vert-ical and horizontaldirections substantiallyv throughout it, which arrangement eliects avery strong structure ot said Crucible.

rllhe quantity ot plastic material to be deposited in the mold can bevery accurately Vdetermined either by weight or volume. Th e amountinserted is slightly less than that required to till the. space betweenthe punch and the mold when the punch has been .lowered to its downwardlimit oi" travel and beitore the latter has been expanded. (See Figs. 2and 4f). The amount inserted however. should be slightly in excess ofthat required to lill the space between the punch and the mold after thelatter has beeneijpanded. It will therefore loe-seen that when `therpunch 18 has been expanded the plastic material is not only compressed(thereby reducing its volume slightly) but any` ei:- cessvis extrudedthrough the opening 12'? loeatedbetween the shoulder 128 of therniembei'63 vand theilange 129 ot' the mold sections li, 55 and 5G. This opening127, preferably annular in shape, is `comparatively small thus requiringconsiderable pressure to eiliect the intrusion ot the excess material.It may be stated in this connection that owing to the relativelyrotational ,movement o'l the punch and mold, particularly in the linalmolding operation, and due to the lateral expansion and contraction ofthe punch member a plastic substance ot'a much stiti'er 4consistency maybe used with a result that the molded Crucible or pot can be immediatelyremoved from themold and will sit "alone without the snghtest'danger ofsagging, much less collapsing.

'lhe next operation is the expanding of the rubber punch 63 lwhile inthe mold which is secured by the movement of said spider GO downwardwith respect to the jaws G2 i and said punch 68, this relative movementbeing secured by the movement of shaft 2l in sleeve 17 after thedownward vmovement ot said sleeve has been arrested. This downwardmovement ot the Spider. with that ot its tapering arms 61' results inthe spreading` apart of said jaws 62 whereby the punch 63is expanded andthe plastic material within the mold is further compressed i and resultthatthe upper portion ot the molded ,i

lou spread over the surface of the mold, any

Crucible, like the rest of it, is compacted" and condensed and thefibers or grains thereot arranged in the manner above described.

This further movement ot said shatt 21 results, as above described, inthe downward,

movement *oit the member 109 with respect to the member 107 whe'rebyanycompressionl Vor the bottom ot said punch 61 which might occur duringthe downward thrust into the plastic material 1s compensated for and thelower endr of said punchV expanded to the desired shape.

ln the withdrawal of the punch from the mold the shaft 21 is tirstmovedwith respect to said sleeve 17 whereby said spider 60y is moved upwardlyand the jaws 62 thereby retracted from pressure against the insidesurface of the rubber punch 63. Air pressure is equalized betweenthe'outside of said punch 63 audits interior by means `of the air duct72 in the top of the punch mechaiiism. After' said spider 60 has beenmoved back to its upper limit within the punch mechanism the sleeve 17is moved With the shaft 21 and `the Whole punch mechanism raisedfroinwithin the mold and is ready to be moved into a new Charge ofplastic material to be molded.

The axis of the mold and punch are preferably concentric. For cruciblesknown as No. 60 (these crucibles are about fourteen inches high and a.maximum diameter of about thirteen inches)` a speed of 8O R. P. M. ofthe mold `has found to give excellent results. `For smaller pots anincreased number of revolutions per minute would probably be desirableand with a. larger potl a lower angular speed can be employed. One ofthe more important advantages in rotating the vmold during the moldingoperation is to facilitate the. removal of the Crucible from the moldafter the operation is coniplete. In fact it has been foundthat it isotherwisey very difficult to 4remove the cru- Cible from the mold.

The cylindrical portion 128 of the flexible member G3 forms a filletWith the latter which cooperates `with the internal flange 129 not onlyto provide a space 127 for the extrusion of the surplus material butalso to properly form the top of the Crucible. It ris iin-portant thatthe flange 129 extends inwardly for a substantial dist-ance, that is tosay far enoughlo ,sliapea major portion of the top of the Crucible so asto prevent the tendency of the air `pressure to tea-r off `oi distortthe top `of the Crucible upon the vvithdraival `of the punch, the inneredge of said flange being located in juxtaposition in said fillet andfor the purposes stated.

The mold sections 54 and 55 are pivoted to the section 56 at pointslocated back of the radial lines which pass through the plane of thecontacting edges of said sections 54k and 55 with the section 56,Whichenables all portions ofthe interior `Wall of said `hinged sectionstorecede in a radial direction from the Crucible molded to preventdistortion or injury to the outer Wall of the latter. The `pivotalpoints are preferably located on lines ii-b which pass through thelpoints Where the inner Walls of` the mold sections contact with eachother.

It is to be understood that my `invention is not limited to theformshown in the dravvings and described in the foregoing as many changesmay be made in ,points of detail and other embodiments `resorted toWit-houtdeviating from the true spiritfand scope of my invention. l makeno1 Claiinherein to the method `as that constitutes the subject matterofy a separate applica-tion 1filed on even date herewith. Serial No.701,663. i

What I claim is:

l. A machine for manufacturing Crucibles and the like, comprising a moldinto `Which and the like, comprising a mold WithinV which the Crucibleforming material is deposited, a hollow, flexible and expansible Vpunchcooperating With the mold for Compr ssing said material'into a Crucible,means for effecting a relative rotation of the punch and mold as thematerial is being Compressed, and means for collapsing` the punch aftercompression to enable it to be ivitlidrawn from the mold.

3. A machine for manufacturing Crucibles and the like, comprising moldinto which the Crucible foriningrmaterial is deposited,

a punch having continuous flexible `side and bottom walls movable intothe mold for compressing the material into aF Crucible the axis of saidpunch being concentric'with the axis of the mold, means for effecting;ya relative rotation of the punch andl mold astlie mate-V,

rial is being Compressed, and means for collapsing the punch aftercompression to enable it to be Withdraivnfroin the mold.

4t. A `machine for manufacturing cruc-ibles and the like, comprising amold into which the Crucible forming material is deposited, a punchhaving continuous flexible side and bottom walls movable into `the moldfor coinpressing said material into a Crucible, means for effecting arelative lateral movement of the mold and punch Walls and means foreffecting a relative rotation of the punch and mold.

5. Aimachine for manufacturing crucibles and the like, comprising a moldinto Which the Crucible forming material is deposited, a

.flexiblepunch movable into the mold yto partially compress saidmaterial, means` for expanding the punch after it has entered the moldto furthercompress said material, and means for effecting a relativerotation of the moldand punch `as the material is being compressed, andmeans for collapsing the punch to enable its Withdrawal from theCrucible. i

6. A machine for manufacturing erucibles and the like, comprising` amoldwithin Which the Crucible forming material is deposited, a flexiblepunch movable into the mold for compressing said material into aCrucible, means foreffecting' a relative rotation of the punch and moldas the material is being Compressed, and means `for collapsingv thepunch after compression `to enable it to be Withdrawn 4from the mold.

7. A machine for manufacturing crucibles flexible side and bottom wallsfor effecting .a

substantially uniform distribution of .pressure upon the entire material`as it is being compressed into a crucible, and means for enabling theextrusion. of surplus material from the mold. t i

9. Aniachine for manufacturing crucibles and the like, comprising a moldinto which.

the Crucible forming material is deposited, in combination with a punchfor eifectinga substantially uniform distribution of pressure upon theentire material as it is being compressed into a Crucible, and means onsaid punch cooperating with means on said mold for enabling theextrusion of surplus material.

10. A machine for manufacturing crucibles and the like, comprising incombination, a mold into which the crucible forming material isdeposited, a punch having continuousl flexible side and bottom walls forsaid mold and said plastic material, means for moving said punch intosaid mold,fand means for expanding said punchfradially rafterl saidmovement into said mold to press said plastic materia-l against thesurface of said mold.

11. In a machine for manufacturing crucibles and the like, incombination with a mold, and means for rotating said mold axially, of apunch for said mold and plastic material comprising an outer radiallyexpansible member andinner expanding means, means for moving said punchinto said mold and said plastic material, and means forl thereafteractuating said expansible member.

12. ln a machine for manufacturing crucibles and the like, a moldk andmeans for rotating said mold axially, in combination with a punch forsaid mold and plastic material comprising an outer radially expansiblemember and inner expanding means, means for moving said punch into saidmold to partially compress said plastic material, and means forthereafter actuating said expansible member to complete the compressionof said material, and means for contracting said expansible member tolenable the punch to be removed from the mold. i

13. In amachine for manufacturing crucibles and the like, a mold,and'm-eans for rotating said mold axially, in combination with anexpansible punch mounted axially above said moldcoinprisiiig an outerflexible inember and aninner expansible member, means for moving` saidpunch into said mold coin- -prising `a shaft mounted axially above saidmold and slidable within an outer' sleeve, said sleeve being fixed tosaid outer flexiblemember yand ysaid shaft being connected to said innerexpansible member. l

14. In aniachine for manufacturing crucibles and the like, a mold, andmeans for rotating said mold axially, in combination with an. expansiblepunch mounted axially above said mold comprising an outer flexiblemember and an inner expaiisible member, means formoving said punch intosaid mold comprising a shaft'mounted axially above said moldand'slidable within an outer sleeve, said sleeve being fixed to saidouter flexible inemberand said shaft being connected to said innerexpansible member, and means fo moving said punch into said mold and formoving said inner expansible-member with respect to said outer flexiblemember.

15. In a plasticmaterial molding machine, in combination, a mold, arevolving table for said mold a frame work.oversaidftable supporting kabearing over the center ofrctation of said .table` a sleeve extendingthrough and slidable vertically in saidbcaring, av hollowy punch ofheavy expansible rubber mounted on the lower end of said sleeve andcoaxial therewith,v a shaft in said sleeve slidable therewith andtherein and terminating within said punch, an expanding member mountedon said sha-ft within said puiichcoinprising radial arms taperingdownwardly in planes along vthe axis of said shaft and having undercutsides, a jaw for each of said arms having tapering and undercut grooveson their inner sides corresponding to and litting on: said arms, saidjaws forming together in the unexpanded position-an annular ringconforming to the inner surface of said punch, an. annular member below'said expanding member fitting the sides of said punch, and a bottommember having an axial extension through and terminating above saidannular member in the unexpanded po sition and having a check valve iiian axial opening therethrough connecting the interior of the punch tothe exterior thereof through its bottom, an air conduit from theinterior of said punch to the exterior through'its top, and ribs on theinterior of said expansible ,member extending downwardly throughcorresponding grooves in said jaws, annular member, and bottom member.

16. In a plastic material molding machine.

in combination a mold, a revolving table for said mold, a frame workover said table supporting a bearing` over the center ofrotation of saidtable, a sleeve extending through and expanding member fitting the sides:of: said ed on said shaft within said punch comprising radial armstapering ,downwardly in planes along the axis oft `said shaftand'haviiig undercut sides, a tor-each of said arms having tapering andundercut grooves on their inner Asides corresponding- 4to `and fittingon said arms, said jaws forming tof gether in the uneiipandedpositionvan annular ring conforming ini the inner surface of saidpunelnan annular member below said punch, and abottom member having anvaxial extension upwardly Atl-irough i and terminating above saidvannular member in the unexp anded position and having a checkvalvein anaxial opening' therethrough connecting .the interior of the punch totheeirterior' thereof through its bottom, .an air conduit from theinterior of said punch to `the .exterior through its top, and ribs .onthe interior of said eizpansible member extending down wardly through`corresponding grooves in said jaws, annular member, and bottom inemfber, means for moving said sleeve and `shaft downwardly to position said`punch- .in said,`

mold, means for arresting said movement oi said sleeve and allowing saidshadib to continue moving for a predetermined distance, and means forretractiiig said shaft substantially vthrough said .predetermineddistance and then moving it with said sleeve to re move said punch fromsaid mold.

17. A machine for manutacturing crucibles and the like, comprising apunch element having coi'itinuoustleXible side andbottom walls for.forming `the `interior `surface ot the crucible, and a molding elementfor iormino tlie exterior surface oit saidnrucible, in combination withlmeans for `effecting a relative longitudinal `movement of `said`elements towards each other A,to partially form the Crucible, and meansfor eiiecting l'thereatter a relative .lateralmovement of said elementstowards each other to further compress the material `to coinpletetheCrucible.

18. A machine for manufacturing crucibles and the like, comprisingaflexihle punch element for iorii'iing the interior sunface .of theCrucible, a molding element` for :forming `the enterior'surtace ot' saidc rucible, means `for ell'ecting arelative.movement of said elementstowards each other to compress said material into a Crucible, and 4means`for eil fecting a relative rotation ot said elements the materialisbeing pressed. 19. A machine for manufacturing `crucibles and thelike, comprising a retable chuck, a sectional mold adapted to beclampedin memos position by said chuck to rotate therewith, and means onsaiclchuck cooperating with nieanson said moldI to prevent longitudinalnioveme-ntcot onelwitilr respect to the other.`

.220. In a machine for manufacturingcruciblesand the like, a rotatingchuck comprising two sections one .of which is iixed and .thegother ofwhich is movable to open cibles and the like, a chuck comprising two ysect/ions one of which is `fixed and the other of which. is movable `toopen and close the chuck, sectional mold adapted to be clampedimposition by said chuck, means co operating with said moldforhcompressing Crucible Vforming material thereimand means Ator`.effecting a relative rotation of the mold andthe aforesaid `means asthe material is beingcompressed. i

22; In a machine for manuiacturingcrucibles and the like, a rotating,table2 a chuck comprising two sections one of which is secured to saidtable and the other of which is inovaibleto ,open and `close the chuck,a sectionalv mold adapted to be clamped in posi-V tion between the `.twosections oi the chuck,

and meanscooperating with said mold for` t compressing t Cruciblematerial therein.

523. A machine Afor `manufacturing crucihles and the like, comprising amold into which the crucible forming material is depositedandprovidedwith` an internal flange at the upperedgethereof, a punchmovable into `the moldand provided with a `lillet on theexteriorsurfacethereoi'` adaptedto coorming operate with said Harige to form theupper edge ,or top of; the Orllcible.

Qai A machine for manufacturing cruci bles andithe like, comprising amold into which thecrucible `forming material is deposited, a punch`movable into the mold, and lint-iarfis `for preventing the air pressurefrom tearing oli or distorting the top of the crucis ble uponthewithdrawal ot the punch com prising a fillet on said punch,.and aiiange on said moldextendfiig a substantial dis- ;tice inwardly ,intojuxtaposition to said et. i Y Y i y5. A l.mold iiormoldingcrucibles andthe like comprisingV a fplurality of sections hinged to one anotherabout points which enable' all ,portionsof the interiorv'alls of saidhinged sectionorsections to recede ina radial direction `Tfromthecrucible molded to prevent distortion or injury to the outer wall of thelatter.

`26. A machine for manufacturing crucibles and the likeycoinprisinganiold into memos which the Crucible forming material is deposited, ahollow, flexible and expansible punch movable into the mold to partiallycompress the material, means for expanding fi the punch after it hasentered the mold, and

expanded to eli'ect a substantially uniform pressure over the Whole ofthe plastic material and thereby compact the material and 10 conform itto the shape of the mold.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto setl my hand this 13th day ofMarch, 1924.

HAROLD E. PORTER.y

